Special Rules for Pit Bulls in St. Joseph

Special Rules for Pit Bulls in St. Joseph

Every dog owner knows that their pet is unique. With its own distinctive character and attitude, there’s a reason why so many people consider their dog to be a part of their own, human, family.

However, some dogs are bred to have traits that make them more or less friendly, or act more aggressively. These traits can have a huge impact on how often a dog bite could occur. To prevent a serious personal injury as a result of a dog bite, many localities in Missouri have their own special registration rules for certain dog breeds.

Special Redemption Rules for Certain Dog Breeds in St. Joseph

The city of St. Joseph is one of these localities, with the rules written in its Code of Ordinances.

If your dog runs away and gets impounded by the city, you’ll have to go to the pound and redeem your pet. Often, this is relatively quick and easy. However, Ordinance 5-148 makes redemption more difficult if the animal control or rescue manager says that your dog is any one of the following breeds:

American Staffordshire Terrier,

American Pit Bull Terrier,

Pit Bull Terrier, or

Rottweiler.

Even if your dog is a mixed breed, and is only a part of one of these breeds, the redemption process can be more difficult.

Instead of just having to pay a $10 impoundment fee and $8 per day for boarding, you’d also have to pay $7.50 to get a microchip implanted before being able to leave with your dog. Additionally, if you have to redeem your dog multiple times, the impoundment fee grows. If your dog is one of the specified breeds and it’s your second redemption in the last year, the fee becomes $100. A third redemption in a year costs $200. Any additional redemption within a year costs $300, and can even lead to six months in jail.

Further, in order to redeem your pit bull, Rottweiler, or Staffordshire Terrier for a second time within the past year, you also have to build a kennel for your dog that meets animal control specifications. Once you get your dog back after a second redemption from the city, you can’t tether it up outside, anymore. Instead, you have to keep the dog in the kennel.

Finally, in order to redeem these breeds of dogs from the city, you need to pay to have them spayed or neutered. The fee for this procedure depends on the weight of the dog.

St. Joseph Dog Bite Attorneys at the Smith Law Office

These rules and regulations are controversial. Many dog owners think that they discriminate against certain dog breeds. However, the targeted breeds have been statistically shown to bite more people than other breeds. To avoid people suffering potentially serious personal injuries, the city of St. Joseph has taken these steps to ensure that dog owners take steps to prevent their dog from biting someone.

If someone’s dog bites either you or someone you love, hiring a personal injury attorney at the Smith Law Office can help ensure you get the compensation that you need and deserve. Contact us online or call our St. Joseph law office at (816) 875-9373.